Emergency circuit breaker



Dec. 5, 1939. P. c. MccANDLEss EMERGENCY CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed April 4, 1938 aal/WMJJ 24 E, @g55/Mm ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to emergency circuit breakers and has for an object to provide a device of this character adapted for use in connection with the wiring systems of motor Vehicles to open the electrical system between the distributor and the coil and prevent the starting of fire which frequently happens when wires are broken in collisions and when motor vehicles turn over.

A further object is to provide a device of this character including a two-piece metal seat insulated froin'each other and adapted to be Connected in the ignition circuit and snugly receive a ball which forms a circuit closer under normal conditions of travel but which is violently dislodged from the seat by force of shock, either collision or overturning of the car, and opens the ignition circuit.

A further object is to provide an emergency circuit closer of this type which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an emergency circuit breaker constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrated in applied position in the primary ignition circuit of a motor Vehicle.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the circuit breaker and mounting bracket, with parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the parts shown in Figure 2 with the cover of the circuit breaker casing removed to expose the working parts of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the circuit breaker taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, IIl designates two similar upstanding metal sections hollowed out at the top to provide a cup shaped seat to snugly receive the lower portion of a metal ball II. A cylindrical casing I2 of insulating material is sleeved upon the seat sections and a partition I3 of insu- (Cl. 20G-52) lating material is disposed between the sections and extends diametrically across the insulating casing I2, as best shown in Figure 3. The partition is out away at the upper edge to form a continuation of the hollowed out surfaces of the sections, as best shown in Figure 4.

Respective binding posts i4 are cast with the seat sections to receive circuit wires l5 connected in the primary ignition circuit of a motor vehicle between the distributor I6 and coil I'l. The ball forms a circuit closer so long as the seat sections lli remain upright but should the sections become tilted violently by reason of shock due to collision or a turnover, the ball will be abruptly dislodged from the seat sections and open the primary ignition circuit at this point.

A casing I8, and a removable cover i9 therefor, formed of hard rubber, or other material, houses the seat sections and ball and catches the ball when it is dislodged from circuit closing position. The bottom 20 of the casing is provided with openings in which insulating bushings 2l are disposed to conduct the binding posts I4 through the bottom of the casing.

Insulating discs 22 and 23 are mounted respectively above and below the bottom 20 of the casing I8. As best shown in Figures 2 and 4 the housing IB may be secured in place on any convenient part of the vehicle through the rnedium of an angle iron bracket, one leg 24 oi which is bolted as shown at 25 to a stationary part of the vehicle while the other leg 26 extends horizontally and supports the casing. Nuts 2l on the binding posts urge the upper and lower insulating discs 23 respectively against the top face of the bottom of the casing and the bottom face of the horizontal leg of the bracket and clamp the casing rigidly to the bracket.

Since the description oi the operation has been given as the description of the parts progressed, it is thought that the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

l. An emergency breaker for motor vehicles comprising a pair of upstanding metal sections hollowed out'at contiguous portions of the top to form a cup-shaped seat, a metal ball having its lower portion engaged in said seat and bridging the seat sections, means for attaching circuit wires to thesections to connect the sections in series in an electric circuit, an insulating casing sleeved upon and engaging the outer surfaces of the seat sections, and a casing housing the seat sections and ball and adapted to catch the ball and vretain the ball between said insulating casing and the housing casing when the the seat sections, means for attaching circuit 10 Wires to-the sections to connect the sections in series in an electric circuit, an insulating casing sleeved upon'and engaging the outer surfaces of the seat sections, a partition of insulating ma terial extending diametrically across the casing between both seat sections and having its upper edge cut away to form a continuation of said cup-shaped seat, and a casing housing the seat sections and ball and adapted to catch the ball and retain the ball between said insulating casing and the housing casing when the ball is dislodged from the seat by tilting the seat sections from upright position.

PAUL C. MCCANDLESS. 

